Page 62 of Merry Little Sugar Rush
Lock the door, Easy-Bake. I’ll knock.
Joy
Fine, but only because I don’t want you to not bring pizza. Snowflake Falls is safe.
Me
And you will be too because the door will be locked.
Joy
See you soon. I’ll be the one standing beneath the mistletoe.
Me
Three pizzas.
With a big, cheesy grin on my face, I place my phone back into my pocket and slip my gloves on. I have a little over two hours left of the workday, and then I’ll secure my kiss, even if she’s not standing beneath the mistletoe.
Before I even knock onthe door, I test the knob to see if it’s locked. It is, thankfully. No, I don’t think she’s in any real danger in Snowflake Falls, but the world isn’t the same place it used to be, where you can leave your doors unlocked and go to bed without a care in the world.
I knock and hear the lock release just seconds later. Then, there she is, standing in the doorway looking like the most beautiful woman in the world on Christmas morning. “Hi.”
Joy smiles. “Hi.” Her gaze drops down to the pizza boxes in my hand. “Did you really bring three pizzas?”
I chuckle as she steps back and grants me entrance. “No, but I did bring a large pizza, some wings, and garlic breadsticks. Ican’t believe I’ve been here for almost two weeks and haven’t had Sully’s yet.”
“That’s because your grandma has been busy fattening you up,” she replies, locking the back door behind us.
“Very true. She spent a little time this morning with Gramps, but then came home and worked the pay hut all afternoon. We were pretty busy,” I state, setting the boxes on the counter because she’s clearly been working at her big station in the middle of the room.
“Sorry, I haven’t had time to clean up. Want to go upstairs?”
I glance around. “Why don’t we move to the front and eat up there. You clearly have more work to do, and after I’ve fed you, I’ll help.”
Her eyebrows shoot upward. “You’ll help?”
“I’m an excellent baker’s assistant, Easy-Bake. I had plenty of practice as a boy.”
“You ate the raw dough!” she bellows, grabbing two bottles of water from the fridge and following me up front.
“That’s the most important job. Taste-tester. It’s imperative to try both the before and after product.”
She slips into the chair across from me, the sounds of her giggles filling the empty room. “If you say so. Now, you’re not supposed to eat the raw dough because of eggs and whatnot.”
I give her a pointed look, holding her gaze. “You still sample though, don’t you?”
Her cheeks turn a beautiful shade of pink. “I do not.”
“You do!” I proclaim through my laughter. “That’s okay, I won’t tell your secrets. I’m a vault.”
She shakes her head, the grin still stretched across her gorgeous face. “I’m going to plead the fifth.”
“Probably for the best,” I state, opening the boxes and waiting for her to choose her food. “Dinner is served.”
Just as I grab my first slice of pizza and add it to my plate with a breadstick and a couple of wings, my phone chimes. Usually, I’d ignore it and give the woman in front of me all my attention, but with everything going on with Gramps, I should at least check it to make sure it’s not family.
As if sensing my hesitation, Joy says, “Go ahead and answer.”
